By Sachinn Phalad, SA
The following captures an experience which occurred during a group Mai-Tri session conducted by the brilliant Preeti Duggal. The session was part of the Mohanji Peace and Prosperity Retreat held at MCB SA.
Before recounting the occasion, I’d like to touch on a few happenings 5 years prior and another 2 weeks prior. In 2019, I had attended a retreat at only 19 years old; my spiritual journey was just about budding. During that retreat, I gained awareness of a deep-seated fear of being abandoned and alone – unwanted. It made me realise I spent a lot of time trying to give people reasons to want me, to see me. I felt this was linked to the passing of my father, which occurred in my childhood.
Whatever the cause, I then took my first step toward awareness of this insufficiency, which scarred a deep part of myself. A few days after the retreat, the person who conducted it casually mentioned my past lives while discussing potential and self-awareness. He mentioned that I had been with Akkalkot Swami, Shirdi Baba, and with our Tradition for many lifetimes prior. He had mentioned that I had lived as a beggar in those times.
But this was all mentioned somewhat in the flow of the conversation, and so whilst I noted it – I never gave it much thought. Years passed, and whilst I developed a connection to Shirdi Baba’s presence at the MCB, I never thought much about who this Akkalkot Swami may be. I knew him only through some of Mohanji’s accounts on YouTube.
It was now 2024 and just 2 weeks away from the retreat. One evening, as I sat immersed in my Sadhana, I suddenly became very emotional and began to cry. My heart just began to churn, and before I knew it, I found myself thinking of Swami Samarth (Akkalkot Swami). My inner voice reminded me of Swami Samarth’s departing promise, which I had read somewhere else (before leaving his body).
“Fear not, I am with you “
Simple words which carried great weight. As Swami’s image settled in my mind, I noticed a light-filled image of Mohanji emerging from myself. Something in me heard, or rather felt in silence, that Mohanji had been fulfilling this promise and watching over me all my life. I couldn’t explain how I knew it, but deep within I felt it: that Mohanji had carried Swami Samarth’s promise on. I felt an immense swelling of gratitude, and over the next few days I started feeling deeply connected to Swami and started seeing him when I looked at Shirdi Baba’s murti, and I even found myself offering him food without thinking about it.
With these stories established – I’ll now recount my experience of the Mai-Tri session.
As part of the healing process, Preeti described general instances of past lives that many of us may have experienced. This helped bring up deep-seated impressions, baggage, and karma we’ve carried for many births. One such scenario she narrated involved feelings of loneliness.
As I channelled the stored feelings of loneliness, I began to see what looked like memories from my perspective. It became obvious that what I was seeing and feeling were my own memories. I began to see clear sequences from a past life when I lived as an outcast in society. Practically the life of a homeless or vagabond, living off some other street corner.
I would see many people walk past me, but no one ever looked at me. No one would ever look at me. At first, it didn’t seem to matter, but after a while it became hard to bear. I felt so unseen. I felt so alone. It was as if I didn’t exist. It was as if I wasn’t worth being seen. I couldn’t take it anymore, and I cried out, “Why won’t anyone see me?”
This hurt deeply. And across this “unseen life,” many people would abuse me. I started seeing all sorts of horrible abuse they would do to me. It seemed like they would beat me horribly, tearing me apart. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me. Me, who never harmed a soul. I started to think I was going to go crazy. My heart was breaking. The world felt so cold, so cruel. I just couldn’t take it anymore.
Agonising, I became angry with the world. I wanted to burn it down. Everyone and everything around me could be burnt to ash for all I cared. I started to see my current form set afire, with this deep pain that fuelled a raging fire. So much anger, so much pain. Just a little more, and I might have gone mad. I was crying profusely as to why – why is this happening? Why will nobody save me?
And that is when my “first” Datta appeared. This face was now somewhat familiar to me. By now you may be able to guess. My first Dattatreya was my beloved Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot. Like an angel, he lifted me from the terrifying and cruel clutches of this world. Such a strange figure to observe with the eyes, yet all I felt and now feel when I see him is pure gentleness and divine love. Pure compassion. I cried and cried. I even cried about how long it took. Although I was saved, I couldn’t help but ask why it took them so long to find me.
And as my tears settled from knowing I finally found them, I was blessed to spend some more time with my second Datta. I have always felt connected to him, but recently that connection had been overshadowed by my connection to Swami Samarth. This was weird for me because for a few months I felt no connection to him. But when you’re at Baba’s temple, his grace flows that much more tangibly.
I had realised that after Swami Samarth – as the stories may help make sense of it, it is said that when Swami Samarth took samadhi, half of his soul merged with Shirdi Baba – Shirdi Baba had taken me in, a little later in life. And all I would like to share here is that when I realised this, I felt my head on Baba’s lap – watching him laughing boisterously (but silently) as I looked into his eyes, I just felt he was laughing at my realisation – my realisation that I most certainly was his child and even though it took much time, I was finally back home.
Later in the session, we transitioned into contemplating Mohanji. During this process, it became unmistakable to me that my Datta is still here – living and breathing – my Mohanji. Swami Samarth and Shirdi Baba are no longer in body – but Mohanji is no substitute – he is the same essence. I no longer needed to burn the world down. Because they took me as their own, they made me safe. They gave me everything I ever had; they gave me love. They gave me life itself. Never again would I cry out alone, wounded by the world.
This culminated in deep gratitude as I cried out in relief. It felt like I finally saw Mohanji as my “home.” This was strange, as I’ve acknowledged Mohanji as my Guru many years ago and thought of myself as part of the Datta Tradition for a while. However, this was the first time I had truly known it. I had finally tangibly known that the home of my soul and its journey all lay at Mohanji’s feet.
I typically don’t give much thought to sharing my experiences – often scrutinising the realness of them. It’s not that I doubt the possibility; I’m just tentative about verifying an experience versus projection. Over time, Mohanji has taught me that the best way to verify is to look at what has transformed. If you are the same after a magical experience, well then it’s probably just a projection. If there’s no inner and outer transformation, it’s futile.
And so I’m grateful that this time I can vividly see both the outer and inner effects of this transformation. On the subtle side, I feel as if my love and connection with Mohanji has grown by leaps and bounds. I feel as if his presence permeates my space for much larger parts of my day. Life just feels a bit warmer and lighter. On the outside, a few days have passed, and I can say it’s made me more conscious of taking opportunities to share. It’s helped me hold more time to “see” people. To make them feel seen.
I’ve seen my drive to be effective and positive skyrocket. And with such tangible experiences and effects, I’ve realised that those who land at this grand Tradition are truly blessed. Our Masters never leave us. Mohanji never walks away from us. It’s us who walk away. It’s us who doubt without being truthful in our dissection and scepticism. Earlier I mentioned how I cried, “Why did it take so long?” In truth, I feel I was the one who walked away from them. Thus, it took lifetimes of immense suffering to find my way back. And so I urge you not to take for granted the greatest blessing a person could have: GURU.
I’ll close with a short letter…
Dear Swami, Dear Baba, Dear Mohanji, Dear Datta,
Thank you for bringing me back home.
Love and gratitude
~A child of the Tradition
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 8th September 2026
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